Laparoscopic placement and removal of a transabdominal cerclage are promising options in the treatment of an incompetent cervix.

No abstract

Preterm birth is one of the major unresolved problems in modern obstetrics. Although the association between adolescence and preterm birth has been reported previously, specific attention has not been focused on the VLBW neonate. We conclude that adolescents deliver a disproportionate number of VLBW infants.

The findings of this study suggest that there is no difference in the rate of fetal intolerance of labor in pregnancies with a borderline AFI and those with a normal AFI. Pregnancies complicated by a borderline AFI are more likely to undergo antepartum testing, yet the benefit is unclear. Significantly more patients with a borderline AFI had underlying growth restriction, which may provide a useful tool for risk stratification in the management of a borderline AFI.

Objective: Offspring of diabetes patients may suffer from tissue iron deficiency. Erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin/heme (ZnPP/H) ratios measure impaired iron status. The aim of the study was to examine whether cord ZnPP/H ratios were associated with pregnancy glycemic control.Methods: ZnPP/H was measured in cord blood from 31 pregnancies with insulin-treated diabetes (diabetes group) and compared to population normal values. Maternal glycemic control was assessed by daily glucose log, glycosylated hemoglobin and birth weight.Results: Median cord ZnPP/H was higher in the diabetes group than the population normal values (106 (65.2 to 146.8) mM/M vs 68.2 (37.6 to 98.8) mM/M, P<0.0001). Ratios were directly correlated to surrogates of control (glycosylated hemoglobin, P ¼ 0.05, and birth weight, P<0.04). Cord ZnPP/H ratios from pregnancies with pre-existing and gestational diabetes were similar.Conclusion: Because cord ZnPP/H was higher in large offspring of diabetic pregnancy, it might identify greater iron utilization for fetal erythropoiesis.